The ISSF mourns the loss of David R. V. Parish, an honored and distinguished colleague, who passed away unexpectedly in early August 2015. Mr. Parish served the ISSF for 36 years. He was first elected to the ISSF Rifle Committee in 1978. In 1994, he was elected as the Chairman of the Rifle Committee where he served for eight years. He was elected as the Chairman of the ISSF Technical Committee in 2002. In 2010, Mr. Parish was elected to the ISSF Executive Committee where he served through 2014.
Mr. Parish’s long service as an ISSF leader included many assignments as an ISSF Technical Delegate or Jury Member at World Cups, World Cup Finals, European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games. He also passed his knowledge and expertise on to hundreds of new ISSF Judges during the numerous ISSF Judges Courses that he taught all over the world.
In recognition of his distinguished service to the ISSF, David Parish was awarded the President’s Button in 2005. In 2008, he was awarded the ISSF Blue Cross, the ISSF’s highest award of distinction for outstanding service.
David Parish began more than six decades of activity in the shooting sports as an athlete who represented Great Britain in international competitions. His competition accomplishments include a bronze medal won in the 1958 World Championship in the smallbore rifle “English Match.” Mr. Parish was an avid student of rifle equipment and training techniques and authored several publications including his book Successful Rifle Shooting, first published in 1989.
David Parish lived a full life dedicated to the shooting sports and the ISSF family has many great memories of him. The ISSF has lost one of its longest serving, most active and dedicated officials. The ISSF extends its sincere condolences to his daughter and sister as well as to David’s many shooting friends in Great Britain and around the world.
Sincerely,
Olegario Vázquez Raña, ISSF President
Franz Schreiber, ISSF Secretary General